Potts, Virginia, and the Republican Party

If anyone is curious as to why the Republican Party lacks the dynamic to make real reform in Virginia government this story holds a clue.

The Senate failed to pass a resolution that would have removed Potts as chairman of the Education and Health Committee, where his moderate views on abortion and other social issues have helped block conservatives.

A crucial vote came from his seat mate, Sen. Fred Quayle, R-Chesapeake, who stood to gain from Potts' demise.

Potts also gained support from Sen. John Chichester, R-Stafford, who is presiding over the Senate until Lt. Gov.-elect Bill Bolling is sworn in Saturday.

Potts, R-Winchester, launched an independent bid against Republican Jerry Kilgore and Democrat Tim Kaine, saying he thought voters needed a third choice.

Potts said he did not regret his failed campaign or ruffling a few feathers along the way.

"I would do it all over again," he said. "I want to emphasize that it's my party, too."

Moments after the vote, he laughed and chatted amiably with two Republicans who voted against him, Thomas K. Norment Jr. of James City County and Ken Stolle of Virginia Beach. Norment was seen shaking Potts' hand moments after the vote.

Sen Potts while enjoying the support of the party in his many reelections to the State Senate, chose to break party unity when a candidate for Governor was nominated whom he did not support by campaigning against the candidate and the party. The purpose of primaries is to find candidates who represent the party's platform. It is during that process that dissent is warranted and encouraged. After the choice is made those whose candidate lost must either get behind the party's choice, stay home and keep quiet or find a party that shares their ideology and leave. Russ Potts chose to leave and should be made to live with his choice.

The failure to enforce any party discipline, not just with this case, leaves a party at odds with itself. The Big Tent concept was instituted to encourage membership of people of differing backgrounds, races and religions. It has become a license for anyone of any ideology to call themselves Republican.. While dissenting opinions within the party are useful, there are areas that require party unity. In the case of Sen. Potts this seems to have become a one-way street.

A party without ideological unity is nothing more that a political club. It can't govern effectively without the confidence in the underlying philosophy it governs from. With Quayle, Chichester and Potts submarineing efforts to make meaningful change in Richmond, the Republicans can look forward to struggling against a Democratic Party that is imploding elsewhere but winning elections in Virginia.